Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-24
MR.. CRANE CALLED TO COURT.
A Warrant L. not Served ON Him. but
he il Notified TO Appear I'm the Police
Court Next Tuesday.

court Next 1ueS0ays
Mr.. John II. Crane remained In his ONCE on
Louisiana avenue all the forenoon waiting for the
police officers to arrest him on the charge of re.
moving the lids from a water valve box on L
street last Thursday afternoon. AT % O'Clock this
afternoon Policeman Frazer, OF the rrst precinct
entered the ONCE and asked: us this Mr. Crane!"
When told that he was speaking to that gentle
man he said: "You are notified to appear In the
Police Court on Tuesday next" The onicer said
he had been instructed not to place Mr.. Crane
under arrest only to notify him to appear
Mr.. CRANE DENIES THE CHANGE, AND THREATENS
PROCEEDINGS FOR Perjury.
Mr.. Crane read the warrant carefully, and then.
turning to the reporter, he said:
"The man that swOre out that warrant COM
mitted downright perjury, and II perjury IS
reached and punished in this District he viii be
punished for IL. 1 charge that that man HolcOmb
has committed perjury. 1 did not remove the
Mr.. Crane says he will answer the summons but
he cannot say now who will act as his attorn y.
Mr.. CRANE INDIGNANT.
"They can't ind a single case In the history OF
the water department" said Mr.. Crane to the re.
porter, "where any citizen has been arrested for
opening the stop-cock boxes. They have got
nothing against Inc. 1t is one OF the most infam-
Gus proceedings ever taken. have done nothing.
IL Is one OF the most ridiculous things ever TAKEN
Why said Mr.. Crane, pointing TO the stop-cOck
on the curb in front OF his door, .they might lust
as well arrest me for taking the cover on that thing
Ihey show just what desperate straits they are
put 10 by this matter. But that does not alter the
TACT that those leaks were due TO their laundering
lncapacity. have spoken TO three or four attor-
neys who said they would defend me IL the water
department should be 50 1mprudent as to under.
Lake any such thing as my arrest on that charge.
VIII they pretend that a citizen cannot 20
COW oe o hs Those and t the
II there ever was a set OF contemplate jackasses
we have got them here in this District. They don't
KNOW anythlng about human rights or anything
else. l propose, II am taken away from my bust.
ness by any such frivolous questions 10 this,
mat some one shall have to pay Tor 1t. Idont pro-
pose 10 I've subjected to sucn indignity in silence
!hey have plenty to do to catch men who
90 commit offenses without putting up Jobs Oh
honest citizens. i won't stand IL either.
blOckheadS must respect. It's about time that we
had some men In this District who are competent
TO conduct its affairs. The fact IS they have got
a set OF frauds behind them who are pushing them
ahead. have had people come to me ali day and
say that they consider this fight against Inc as
one against them, and they propose to stand be-
hind me-
WHAT CAPT. SYMoSS SAYS
In reply to an inquiry by STAR reporter to-day
Capt. Symons stated that he acted mainly on his
own responsibility when he ordered Inspector Hol.
comb TO swear out warrant against Mr.. Crane.
He said he did not wish to appear an ''insti-
gator In the matter. capt. SyInons said that the
whole truth or the matter Is that had the abOrers
caught any other man than Mr.. Crane he
would nave been arrested and brought before
Judge Smell, nor would the Commissioners
or himself have known OF the matter until IL had
been disposed OF. But in this case the workmen
recognized Mr.. Crane as the culprit, and owing to
his prominence as a citizen they did not like to
take the matter into their own hands. Therefore,
1t was reported TO Inspector HOcomb, who. In
turn, reported 1t to Capt. SymOnS, who directed
hocomb to get the warrant. Capt. Symons said
tn Il the water department would have been
pleased TO furnish Mr.. Crane with permit to re-
move the valye-bOX lids, as required by law, had
he asked for il; and they would have, in addition,
sent man around with him to take OF the lids.
But. as he chose TO act differently and In defiance
or the law, he must, when apprehended, be pre-
pared to accept the consequences OF his violation
Of the law.
Captain Symons admits that it is unfortunate
MI. Crane should have been arrested at this time,
but says the fact OF his having recently preferred
charges against the water department In no way
influenced the action just tahen.
COMMISSIONER wHEATLEY
said he did not hear OF the matter yesterday until
THE STAR reporter mentioned 1t to him, and then
he was not prepared to say anything in reference
to It, He said: "If Mr.. Crane has the right to re-
move the lid from valve box, then the 200 600
and more residentsOf the District have the same
privilege. But III had had anything to say about
the matter he would not have been arrested"